Giveaway of the New Upstairs Downstairs (2010) DVD!

Enter DVD Giveaway!

Did you catch the incredible new revival of Upstairs Downstairs broadcast in the US on Masterpiece Classic PBS this month? Three new episodes continue the story of the lives of the residents of 165 Eaton Place. For those who enjoyed the award winning 1970’s BBC series of the aristocratic Bellamy family and their servants, you will be happy to meet the new cast of characters of both upstairs and downstairs residents who now reside in this Georgian townhouse in London, including the original parlormaid Rose who returns as the housekeeper.

Synopsis: One of the most beloved television series of all time is brought back to life in a sumptuous new production with a fresh new cast. It’s 1936 and six years since parlormaid Rose (Jean Marsh, Sense & Sensibility) left 165 Eaton Place. Fate brings her back as housekeeper to its new owners, Sir Hallam Holland (Ed Stoppard, The Pianist, Brideshead Revisited), his wife Lady Agnes (Keeley Hawes, MI-5, Ashes to Ashes), and his mother, Lady Maud Holland (Eileen Atkins, Cranford, Gosford Park). Rose soon finds she has her work cut out for her as she recruits a new “downstairs” family to help run the elegance and finery of the “upstairs” world. Both upstairs and downstairs, it soon becomes apparent there lies a labyrinth of secrets, lies and scandal. Set against the historical backdrop of a pre-World War II Britain with a new King on the throne, with Fascism on the rise on the continent, and with sexual, social and political tensions at 165 Eaton Place, this new series provides an evocative take on the master-servant relationship.

Today, April 26th, the three new episodes of Upstairs Downstairs are available on DVD from BBC Video. In honor of the US broadcast the BBC America is offering one copy of the DVD set of Upstairs Downstairs as a giveaway. To qualify, leave a comment stating which your favorite characters are in the new series, or what intrigues you about this time period by May 4, 2011. Winner will be chosen at random from comments and announced on May 5, 2011. Shipment to the US only. Good luck all you Up Down fans.

I saw part of the second episode, but couldn’t really follow what was going on so I’d love to see it in its entirety. I love books, movies, and TV shows set during this time period because there was so much change afoot, so much history being made. I find it fascinating. Thanks for the giveaway!

I have been enjoying this series and would love to own it.
I had never watched the original series, so I ordered it through NetFlix and, so far, have watched, and enjoyed the first two seasons of it. Naturally Rose is a favorite character, and I love the mother/mother-in-law. Somewhere I read that she (Eileen Atkins) and Jean Marsh (Rose in the series) were the ones who came up with the idea for the original series. Is that true? BTW it was watching Downton Abbey that awakened me to this kind of period drama. Thanks for the giveaway.

Just as I did with the first series, each of the characters appeals to me in their own way. I have found different characters emerging as a favorite in each episode. But in what is probably no surprise, Rose and Lady Maud are far and away my favorites. But since Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh have a bit of an unfair advantage, of the new residents, I have found Sir Hallam is emerging to be a favorite of mine!

Sorry, I can’t pick just one, but if pressed it’s Lady Maude. She really pulls you into all the stories. I was so excited to see the new series and it didn’t disappoint. I love all the characters and that the story of 165 is continuing. The set is wonderful also; it’s a character too. This season on Masterpiece Theater has been fantastic.

I haven’t seen the final episode yet, but I really did like one scene from the second episode where Lady Agnes is having the party where she expects the royal Edward to show up. Instead, a Nazi sympathizer shows up — quel social faux pas! Lady Agnes must get help from Rose to get rid of the unwanted guest. Deep down, Lady Agnes knows that she cannot function at Eaton Place without Rose’s help. The young servant dumps the tray of champagne on the “guest” is Rose’s simple solution. This scene was priceless!

This time period is very fascinating because of the social and political tensions that affected people on a global scale. And, because of the League of Nations, one country’s problems became the problems of so many others.

As far as a favorite character, I would also have to say Mr Amanjit. He seems so kind, yet also so mysterious. He reminds me of a similar character in A Little Princess, another favorite of mine.

I’m somewhat intrigued by the time period because it’s far removed enough from us so that the program falls into the category of “period piece”, but my true interest comes from my love of the recent Downton Abbey, which was so fabulous.

I find so many of the characters fascinating, but I think Sir Hallam is my favorite. The time period is such a fascinating setting. We tend to think of national socialists as being confined to Germany, but to see them marching in the London streets was horrifying. The series really captured the feeling of fear and uncertainty. Fabulous!

I have to say I love Lady Maude! She is so colorful with such an interesting life. She brings wisdom of a life lived and I love her eccentricity. I also love this time period because it encompasses the old ways and the new as the world is changing. I long for the days of old with tradition and dressing in lovely clothes, unique items(not like the mass produced /copied items of today) and the house! It is so beautifully decorated and original! No cookie cutter there! Yet there are still the modern concepts I love. I loved everything about it!

So excited to enter this drawing! I really enjoyed Upstairs Downstairs, even though I hadn’t seen any of the original episodes from decades ago. I found Mr. Amanjit to be one of the most interesting among the servants, especially as he became more comfortable and accepted by the others. There was also something about Agnes and Hallam that I liked, but I think it’s mostly the fact that they have potential as characters if there are future episodes.

I loved Lady Maud the best. She had strength of character. I am intrigued by Mr. Amanjit. I want to watch the development of the Holland’s marriage. By the way, doesn’t the name Hallam Holland seem a weird name?

I missed the last episode. My PBS station was out because we are having a historic flood here in Missouri. We have had more than 16 inches of rain since Friday. So I would love to win this DVD so I could find out what happened. I loved the scene with the the young maid sings to the little girl in bed. It was such a touching scene.

One of the things most interesting to me about this time period is that it was a time of enormous social change. You could never have an “Upstairs, Downstairs” set today – same goes for “Downton Abbey” or “Gosford Park.” These films all work precisely because they were set at a turning point in society, and its fascinating to watch the stories from both perspectives as they unfold.

Don’t want to be too much of a geek but the original 1970s TV series Upstairs and Downstairs was made by ITV not the BBC, as indeed were a lot of British series which have been shown on PBS over the years – Brideshead Revisited, Jewel in the Crown, Inspector Morse, Prime Suspect and more recently Downton Abbey to name just five. The new U&D is though made by the BBC.

My favorite character turned out to be Sir Hallam, which I certainly wasn’t expecting. I was surprised at how sympathetic his character was, taking Rachel’s daughter as his ward and his reaction to Pamela. And I realize it’s not part of the question, but I have to say I was disappointed with Lady Persie in particular, not just because of the fascism plotline she got entangled in, but because on first glance, I had hoped her storyline would mirror that of one of the subplots in “The Making of a Marchioness” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. In that, one of the characters – named Lady Agnes, oddly enough – comes from an improvished aristocratic family that can’t afford London seasons for its younger daughters.

I really enjoyed this updated Upstairs/Downstairs. Most intriguing is the history of the time and how it is woven into the stories of the characters themselves. My favorite character is Ivy–I think she has so much potential to grow into the real star of this version. An orphan herself with spunk, attitude, and the ability to learn and with a great heart.

I am most intrigued with Sir Holland at the close of the third episode. Earlier in the episode I would have chosen Lady Maude as my favoite with Mr. Amanjit a close second. I really felt empathy for Sir Holland and was happy he had more to do in the final episode. I have never seen the original though I have heard much about it and it compared to Downton Abbey and Gosford Park both of which I loved.

I have never seen the original series so can’t compare it but I love, love, LOVE Downton Abbey and all series of the like so had to watch this one! It was too short, I thought but lovely done. I kept wondering if they used outside facades from the movie, Howards End?!

I don’t really have a favorite character but the head cook had spunk and I thought it was sweet when she had her picture taken by the photographer and then he sent her the photo :)